Multi-cavity cartridge for a filterdehydrator



Dec. 22, 1959 R, J. DALEY ETAL MULTI-CAVITY CARTRIDGE FOR AFILTER-*DEHYDRATOR Filed Sept. 6, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I 1 4 5 mMULTl-CAVTTY CARTRIDGE FOR A FILTER- DEHYDRATOR Roger J. Daley andDonald R. Schaber, Fort Wayne, Ind, assignors to Bowser, Inc., FortWayne, 11113., a corporation of Indiana Application September 6, 1955,Serial No. 532,717

12 Claims. (Cl. 210-492) This invention relates to a cartridge for afilter-dehydrator and more particularly it relates to a cartridge with amultiplicity of cavities or pockets and adapted for removing contaminantand water from a Water-oil emulsion which may be present in such liquidsas jet fuel, gasoline, fuel oil, diesel fuel, kerosene and other similarproducts.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a cartridgewhich will remove entrained water and separate water-oil emulsion fromfuel oil.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a cartridge whichwill remove impurities such as dirt and other contaminant from fuel oil.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a cartridge whichcan be replaced by a new cartridge when the original cartridge becomesfouled or otherwise rendered inoperative.

An important object of the invention is to provide a cartridge with aninner integrated section or barrier having a light density to providedepth filtration of the liquid and an outer section of heavier densityfor coalescing and, to provide additional filtration of the liquid.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cartridge with twodifferent separating and filtering mediums, each of which is made ofglass fibers having a predetermined density.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of afilter-stripper cartridge which will efliciently handle liquids under arelative high flow rate and have a substantially longer performancelongevity.

Another object of this invention is to provide a filterstrippercartridge of this character of simple and practical construction, whichis efficient and reliable in use, relatively inexpensive to manufactureand otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same isinstalled.

With the objects definitely in view, together with other objects whichwill appear as this description proceeds, this invention resides incertain novel features of construction, combinations and arrangements aswill be hereinafter described in detail in the specification,particularly pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings which form a material part of this application,and in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a filter-dehydrator tankshowing the separator units mounted therein and the preferreddisposition of the fluid connections;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view with parts broken away of theseparator unit illustrated in Figure 2;

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the top locking cap and ring;

Figure 4 is a perspective view with a section broken away showing thefilter-dehydrator cartridge;

Figure 5 is an exploded view showing the two sections of the cartridgealternately stacked.

Referring to the drawings, particularly Figure 1, the numeral 11designates a tank provided with a deck plate or partition 13 which isdisposed across the lower end to 2,918,173 Patented Dec. 22, 1959 forman inlet chamber 15, and an efliuent chamber or compartment 17. The tankis mounted on legs 19.

A ring 21 is attached near the top of the tank and secured thereto byconventional means such as a weld 23. The numeral 25 designates aremovable cover provided with a radial flange 27, and vertical flange29. A gasket 31 is placed between the flange 27 and the ring 21 toprovide a seal. The tank is provided with clamping means 33 which isadapted to engage the flange 29 for fastening the cover thereto. Thecover is provided with a conventional vent 35.

The inlet conduit 37 is connected at one end to the inlet chamber 15 andat the other end with a pump or other source of fuel under pressure (notshown). The outlet conduit 39 extends vertically through the bottom ofthe tank 11, the deck plate 13, and terminates adjacent the upper end ofthe chamber 17.

A drain tube 41 having a valve 43 is disposed in the wall of the tankabove the deck plate and communicates with the lower portion of thechamber 17.

As illustrated in Figure 2, the separating unit 45 is provided with abottom head member 47 with a number of down-turned ears 49 bentoutwardly at their free ends 51. The head member is provided with acentral opening 53 and a recess or depression 55 for centering acoupling or nipple 57 which is then welded to the head member at 59.

The coupling is provided with a recess 61 adjacent the end which isattached to the head member and a gasket 63 is positioned therein. Theother end of the coupling is provided with a tapered recess 65 whichconverges inwardly toward a threaded portion 67 and serves to guide thecoupling into position on a nipple 69 affixed to the deck plate 13.

The cage 71 is constructed of perforated metal or similar material. Oneend of the cage is adapted to seat on the outwardly projection 51.

A top ring 73 is provided with spaced downturned cars 75 which arewelded or otherwise fixed to the inner part of the wall of the cage nearthe upper end thereof. The ring is provided with radially spacedprojections 77.

As shown in Figure 3, the cap or cover 79 is provided with a downwardlyprojecting flange 81 having spaced bayonet slots 83. The slot isprovided with a recess for receiving the projection 77 and functions toprevent the cap from becoming disengaged when the parts are assembled.

An outer collector sleeve is constructed of an upper part 85 of nylon orPaige cloth which is substantially nonpervious to water and pervious tooil, and a lower part 87 of linen toweling which is pervious to water. Acord or wire 89 is used to close or fasten the top of the sleeve abovethe cap 79 and the bottom portion of the sleeve is stitched with cottonthread at 91 leaving an opening 93 for the coupling 57.

The cartridge 95 as shown in Figures 4 and 5 is con structed fromsections or elements which are preferably cut from square slabs orblocks of fiber glass material of different densities. Morespecifically, the filtering sections or elements 97 are cut from a low,approximately one-half pound density, preferably two inch thick slab oftype B super fine fiber glass material which is bonded with a resin suchas a phenol formaldehyde, thermosetting resin.

Each section is provided with a round, central opening 98 which servesto give the entering liquids an even flow through the cartridge.

A one-half pound density is defined as the weight of volume of thematerial which has been compressed to a cubic foot.

The coalescing sections or elements 99 are cut from 3 a high,approximately eight pound density, preferably a five-eighth inch thickslab or type B fiber glass material which is preferably uniformly bondedwith a resin such as a phenol formaldehyde, thermosetting resin andcompressed during curingo'f the resin: so-that -the fiber glass isheld'in the compressed or predensified state bythe polymerized resin; Aneight pound densityis defined as the weight of volume of the materialwhichhash];'ee'n} compressed to a cubic foot. Each coalescing sectionis;

provided with a square,- centralo'pening'96, whichi'ssiib stantiallylarger in diameter than the opening 98in the filtering sections.

To assemble thecartridge, the sections 97 and are alternately stacked ina holding or stacking; fixture to length of approximately seven feet. Atopc'a'p' or plate' 101 having aninwardly, solid dished portion 103 isplaced on one end of the stack and'servestoseal the top portion ofthecartridge. A bottom cap 105 having an inwardly dished portion 107 andprovided with a central opening 109 is placed on the bottom end of thes'tacked's'ections. 'Ihestackingfixture is then placedxin an assembly;fixture having an arbor which is inserted through the opening 109. Anair cylinder compresses the seven'feet of "alternately stackedsectionsto approximately three feet.

A sleeve or stockinglll of cotton, knit tubing, which is ofribbedconstruc'tion for yieldability, is pulled over the compressedsections and clamped to each end of the cartridge. The sleeve ispervious to both oil and water.

The cartridge is removed from the assembly fixture and placed on aholding fixture. The ends of the sleeveare cemented to the end plates103 and105, respectively. After the cement has set, the completedcartridge is withdrawn from the fixture and is, ready for use; When thecartridge is placed in the cage 71 between the bottom head 47 and topplate 79 it is compressed approximately an additional four inches, thusassuring a seal ateach end of the cartridge.

Operation The fuel oil including contaminant, water and water,- oilemulsion is delivered under pressure through the conduit 37 into chamberwhence the fuel oil flows to the interior of the cartridge 95 throughthe nipple 69 and coupling 57.

As the liquid begins to flow through thecartridge a substantial portionof the contaminant is removed by and stored in the inner part of filtersection 97. It should be noted that when the filter and coalescingsections are compressed, the inner edges of the filtering sections arein contact with each other and form a unitary or integrated innerperiphery which is of low density. The inner edges also form circularcavities or pockets 113 between the innerperiphery which is of lowdensity. The inner edges cavities 113 are substantially triangular incross section with the vertex toward the center of the circle and thesurface of the legs being convex when the outer peripheral edges ofsections 97 are compressed. The outer edges of the filtering sectionswhichare compressed between the sections 99 have approximately the samehigh density as the coalescing sections.

The integrated inner periphery of the filtering sections functions toeliminate the-coating orcaking of contaminant on the coalescing sectionsthus avoiding a too rapid increase in differential pressure and providesa longer operational life for the cartridge. The square openings 96inthe coalescing sections provides a larger surface area forfilter-stripping and function to allow the inner periphery of thefiltering section to form a more unitary 8.,

The coalescing sections perform the dual function of removing-anysolids, including particles of micronic size and of coalescingminuteparticles of entrained water into markedly larger droplets. The cottonsleeve 111 holds the; sections in an assembled position and providesaddi- 7 43 as desired.

The treated fuel passes through the upper part which is pervious to oilinto the upper portion of the chamber 17 and out of the discharge line39.

Although we have described our invention with a certain degree ofparticularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has beenmade only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details ofconstruction and the combination and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit and, the scope of theinvention-as hereinafter claimed.

We claim:

1. A cartridge for a filter-dehydrator comprising; in

combination, a filter section having a central opening said filtersection constructed of filtering and coalescing material having a lowdensity, a coalescing section of coalescing material for water-oilemulsion breaking, said coalescing section having a central openinglarger in diameter than the opening in the filter section, said filterand coalescing sections being alternately stacked and compressed untilthe inner edges of the filter section fans outwardly to form anintegrated inner periphery and the outer edges being compressedsufficiently to form a coalescing section and means for holding thesections assembled.

2. A cartridge for a filter-dehydrator comprising in combination, afirst element having a central opening, said first element constructedof fibrous filtering and coalescing material, said first element adaptedto remove a substantial portion of contaminant from the liquid passingtherethrough, a second element of coalescing material for water-oilemulsion breaking, said second element having a central opening largerin diameter than v the opening in the first element, said first andsecond elements being alternately stacked and compressed so that theinner edges of the first element fans outwardly to form a unitary innerperiphery with the outer edges being saidfirst element being offiltering and coalescing mate-.

rial having a low density, a second element of coalescing material forwater-oil emulsion breaking, said second element having a centralopening larger in diameter than the opening in the first element, saidfirst and second element being alternately stacked and compressed sothat the inner edges of the first element fans outwardly to form anintegrated inner periphery for depth filtration oftheliquid and theouter edges compressed to form coalescing sections and means for holdingthe elements assembled.

4. A cartridge for a filter-dehydrator comprising, in combination, afirst element having a central opening, said first element constructedof low, uniform density fiber glass material and bonded slightly withresin to maintain a firm element, a second element having a centralopening larger in diameter than the opening in the first element, saidsecond element constructed of a high, uniform density fiber glassmaterial and bonded with resin to maintain a firm element, said firstand second elements altcrnatelystacked and compressed'so that the inneredges of the first element fans outwardly to form an integrated inner,periphery and the outeredges 1 compressed so. that thedensity issubstantially thesame ssembled;

5. A cartridge for a filter-dehydrator comprising, in combination, afirst fiber glass element having a round central opening, a second fiberglass element having a square central opening larger in diameter thanthe opening in the first element, said first and second elements beingalternately stacked and compressed so that the inner portion of thefirst element fans outwardly to form an integrated inner periphery andthe outer portion of said first element being compressed tosubstantially the same form as the second element and means for holdingthe elements in assembled position.

6. A cartridge for a filter-dehydrator comprising, in combination, afirst element of porous, resin bonded, fiber glass material having acentral opening, a second element of porous, predensified, resin bonded,fiber glass material having a central opening larger in diameter thanthe opening in the first element, said first and second elements beingalternately stacked and compressed so that the inner portion of thefirst element fans outwardly to form an integrated inner periphery fordepth filtration of contaminant, said second element and compressedouter portion of the first element adapted for water-oil emulsionbreaking and means for holding the elements under compression.

7. A cartridge for a filter-dehydrator comprising, in combination, afirst element having a round central opening, said first elementcomposed of resin bonded fiber glass material having a low density, asecond element having a square central opening larger in diameter thanthe opening in the first element, said second element composed of apredensified resin bonded fiber glass material having a high density,said first and second elements being alternately stacked and compressedso that the inner portion of the first element fans outwardly to form anintegrated inner periphery for depth filtration, said second element andcompressed outer portion of the first element adapted for water-oilemulsion breaking, and means including a liquid pervious sleeve forholding the elements under compression.

8. A cartridge for a filter-dehydrator comprising, in combination, afirst element having a central opening, said first element composed ofresin bonded fiber glass material having a low density, a second elementhaving a central opening larger in diameter than the opening in thefirst element, said second element composed of resin bonded fiber glassmaterial having a high density, said first and second elements beingalternately stacked and compressed so that the inner portion of thefirst element forming a unitary inner periphery fans outwardly to formcircular cavities between the unitary periphery and second element, andmeans for holding the elements under compression.

9. A cartridge for a filter-dehydrator comprising a first element offibrous filtering and coalescing material having a low density, saidfirst element provided with a central opening, a second element offibrous coalescing material having a high density adapted for water-oilemulsion breaking, said second element provided with a central openinglarger in diameter than the opening in the first element, said elementsbeing alternately stacked and compressed so that one edge of said firstelement fans outwardly to form an integrated portion for removing asubstantial portion of contaminant from the liquid, said integratedportion adapted to prevent distribution of the removed contaminant onthe surface of the second element and the outer edges of said firstelement being compressed sufficiently for water-oil emulsion breakingand means for holding the elements under compression.

10. A cartridge for a filter-dehydrator comprising a first element offiber glass material having a density of substantially one-half poundper cubic foot and provided with a central opening, a second element offiber glass material having a density of substantially eight pounds percubic foot and provided with a central opening larger in diameter thanthe central opening in said first element, said elements beingalternately stacked and compressed so that the inner portion of thefirst element fans outwardly to form a unitary mass adapted to remove asubstantial portion of contaminant from the liquid being filtered andthe outer edge being compressed to substan tially the same density asthe second element, said second element and outer portion of the firstelement adapted for water-oil emulsion breaking and means for holdingthe elements assembled.

11. A cartridge for a filter-dehydrator comprising a first element offiber glass material having a substantially low density and providedwith a central opening, a second element of fiber glass material havinga substantially high density and provided with a central opening largerin diameter than the central opening in said first element, said firstand second elements being alternately stacked and compressed so that theinner edges of the first ele ment fans outwardly to contact each otherto form circular cavities between the contacting edges and secondelement, and the outer edge of said first element compressed tosubstantially the same density as the second element for water-oilemulsion breaking, and means for holding the elements under compression.

12. A cartridge for a filter-dehydrator comprising, in combination, afirst section of fiber glass material having a central opening, saidfirst section being of low density, a second section of fiber glassmaterial of high density and having a central opening slightly larger indiameter than the central opening in the first section, said first andsecond sections alternately stacked and compressed so that the inneredge of the first section fans outwardly to form a first unitaryfiltering medium and the outer compressed edge of the first section andthe second section serves as a unitary coalescing medium for water andoil separation, and means for holding the sections together.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,750,935 Maunula et al Mar. 18, 1930 2,190,014 Colas Feb. 13, 19402,345,849 Winslow Apr. 4, 1944 2,521,984 Lang Sept. 12, 1950 2,525,287Cuno Oct. 10, 1950 2,550,853 Nugent May 1, 1951 2,657,808 Mankin Nov. 3,1953 2,682,953 Gunn July 6, 1954 2,725,986 Marvel Dec. 6, 1955 2,739,713Robinson Mar. 27, 1956 2,800,232 Marvel July 23, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS400,030 Italy Nov. 23, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EERHEEEATE GEREEUHUN Patent Noo 2318 173 Roger J Daley et alo December 22 1959 It ishereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of theabove numbered patent requiring correction and that the said LettersPatent should read as corrected below.

Column 3 line 54., for "innerperiphery which is of low density" readinner periphery and the coalescing sections -5 same column lines 54 and55 for "The inner edges cavities 113' read The circular cavities 113column 4,, line 12 strike out "of"; column 5 lines 49 and 50 strike out"forming a unitary inner periphery fans outwardly to form" and insertinstead fans outwardly to form a unitary inner periphery forming Signedand sealed this 27th day of September 1960,

(SEAL) Attest:

KARL H, AXLINE RUBERT C. WATSON Attesting Oificer Commissioner ofPatents

